The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-26
UNIVERSALISM AND THE MISSION
AIRY SPIRIT.

asa faith calculated, above all others,
to animate with a missionary zeal,
suggests the following considerations,
which are worthy of the attention of
our orthodox friends:
l. The work of foreign missions,
which has been so grandly prosecuted
thus far, is not the outcome of ortho-
doxy, but of spirit infused into it
from without. For nearly or quite two
hundred years, covering a period twice
the length of that in which the Univer-
salist church has had an existence,
orthodoxy made not the slightest sign
of missionary endeavor. 1t was utterly
apathetic and dead with reference to
any enterprise in this direction, and
thus the initiative was not taken by
orthodoxy as such, as natural and
legitimate result of its development;
nor was the work inaugurated by its
leaders and representative men, as it
would have been had such been the spirit
of orthodoxy. On the contrary it was
forced upon it in the face of a deter
mined resistance on its part, and its iner-
tia overcome only by desperate strug-
gle. When in the first instance, the
despised cobbler, Carey, arose in the
meeting Of Baptist ministers, at North
ampton, England, and spoke of ''the
duty of Christians to attempt to spread
the gospel among heather nations"
the venerable divine, DR.. Ryland,
sprang to his feet, denounced the prop
osition in laundering tones, and with a
frOwn darkening his brow, said to Mr..
Carey" Young man sit down, when God
pleases to convert the heather, he will
do it without your aid or mine!" The
aged and influential ministers gener-
ally, endeavored to dissuade him from
what they termed so visionary a
scheme" In the great city of London,
the metropolis of religious life, only a
single minister could be found to coun-
tenance him in his aspiration, and some
of the leading ones advised others not
to commit themselves to such an under
taking.
In 1895 the General Assembly of the
Church Of Scotland voted, Emissions to
the heather are unscriptural and revo-
lutionary." When by herculean efforts,
and the utmost self devotion the work
was begun and successfully carried for
ward by Carey and the few heroic, far
seeing souls, who rallied to his support,
Mr.. Wilberforce said: "In fourteen
years these low-bred mechanics have
done more toward spreading know
ledge of the Scriptures among the heath
en- than has been accomplished or even
attempted by all the world besides" In
our own land, the first instance of per-
sonal conservation to foreign missions
is found in 1908, in few students of
Williams college. "But, Says DR.. Ander-
son, ''these found so little sympathy in
the religious community that they long
kept their intention secret. The Christ
ian people, as a whole, were far from
being ready to approve their purpose"
The Rev. Mr.. Sanborn expressed the
wide extended sentiment when at a
conference with young candidates at
Andover, he said that, foreign missions
seemed to SAVIOR Of infatuation, and
that the project was premature. There
is more work at home than we can do,
and it will be impossible to meet the
expense"
IF a general vote could have been
obtained" continues Mr.. Anderson,
''among Congregational churches, it
would doubtless have been against 60
ing forward at that time in missions
to foreign nations"
In 1911 the contributions amounted
to but 81 ,667. These facts show how
utterly destitute was orthodoxy Of the
missionary spirit after two hundred
years of its career, and that it is not
generated by its own spontaneity. Chan
ticleer has not been on the fence long
enough to crow too vociferously. AT
least, it will be seen that this spirit is
not inherent in the dogmas peculiar to
orthodoxy and inseparable from them.
2. Universalism is not, in itself, alien
to this spirit. This is attested by the
interest with which proposals to enter
upon the work have been entertained
in its conventions, by the yearning for
larger activity in the hearts of it's adj
vocates, and by the earnestness of its
pioneers who event everywhere preach
ing the word" in the face of SCOTS and
bitter opposition, with zeal that has
only been surpassed in exceptional in
stances, and has never been entirely re-
Taxed by their successors, in the ardent
endeavors, to preach the word. When,
as is now the case with its opposers, it
draws near the third century of its ca
reer, results we hope more brilliant
then theirs will demonstrate it's vitaliz-
ing power.
AS our troops were charging upon the
enemy's works on Lookout Mountain,
General Grant and subordinate officer
stood watching the advance, and as the
line wavered and there was seeming
faltering, "They'll not make it, Gen